garystpaul
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« on: November 12, 2011, 09:43:43 PM » |
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All fuses OK, battery leads tightened. Haven't ridden in a month or so, may be a bad battery, but did get the 10 miles in. No electrical system at all. What could it be otherwise? Faulty ignition switch? Puzzled in St. Paul, where we had a crazy balmy 62° afternoon! Thanks for any suggestions. Gary
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MP
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1997 Standard and 2001 red/blk I/S with sidecar
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« Reply #1 on: November 13, 2011, 06:22:41 AM » |
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1. Can be starter switch button. Take it apart, clean, and polish contacts.
2. Under rh side cover, can be bad connections on the starter relay, or burned off a lead on the relay.
You can also start the bike here by bypassing the relay.
MP
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Scranton, ND "Riding with Cycho"  |
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garystpaul
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« Reply #2 on: November 13, 2011, 07:25:02 AM » |
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Thank you, BP, for the quick response on this. I will try what you suggest. But note that I didn't even get to the starter button. Turning the ignition switch got me no headlights or other lights—I assumed a complete electrical failure. I read on another site to look at the earth (ground) for the battery to the frame, ensure it is tight to the frame and that the connections are clean. I never thought of that. Gary
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NITRO
~KP~
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« Reply #3 on: November 13, 2011, 09:07:08 AM » |
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Have you tried charging the battery? It is really odd you rode for a bit and then had nothing...
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When in doubt, ride far.   |
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garystpaul
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« Reply #4 on: November 13, 2011, 10:58:19 AM » |
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I just put the battery on a charger. The needle jiggles slightly, never reaching 0, then goes back to below 0. I've never seen that before. Does this sound right: The battery is basically dead—beyond recharging—probably because the 10 miles I rode drained it, because the alternator was not working to recharge on the road? Gary
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ValkThree
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« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2011, 10:27:02 AM » |
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I had this happen with my 1800 this summer - battery was perfect but 11 years old. We pulled into a parking lot and after lunch I hit the starter and nothing. Battery was gone.
Luck for me there was a Napa store 500 feet away so off we went!
Most of the time when a battery goes bad for me it's like this - I think the lead connections internally rot off and this may be the reason for the all to nothing experience.
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garystpaul
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« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2011, 07:40:10 PM » |
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Thanks, ValkThree. I haven't had a chance to try out the new battery yet. Plus, we just got a few inches of snow, supposed to melt in the next few days. I'm hoping it's exactly what you described and not the alternator. Gary
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salty
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« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2012, 05:30:45 PM » |
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Gary did you resolve your electrical issue? Was it a bad battery as valkthree suggested?
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Rides: 2006 VTX1800N, 1997 GL1500C Valk, 1983 CB1000C Project: 1998 GL1500C Valk   |
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garystpaul
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« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2012, 07:59:22 AM » |
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Thanks for asking, salty. I don't know yet, winter sort of overtook me. But the new battery is sitting in a warm room awaiting the day.... probably soon, since this has been anything but a normal Minnesota winter (no complaints). Gary
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larswlvs
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« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2012, 02:59:53 PM » |
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Have you checked your starter relay switch. A bad connection or blown fuse there will shut everything down. Don't ask me how I know.
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  Larry I want to know,if guns kill people where are mine hiding the bodies |
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